The Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs has outlined key priorities for its legislative and oversight work as Senator Aniekan Bassey formally chaired his first committee meeting since his appointment. The session, held at the National Assembly, focused on strengthening Nigeria’s engagement with its citizens abroad and addressing longstanding concerns affecting the diaspora community.
Senator Bassey said the meeting was convened to familiarize himself with members and set a unified direction for the committee’s tasks. He noted that the committee is widely misunderstood, as many assumed its mandate revolved only around foreign trips and engagements with Nigerians abroad. Instead, he emphasized that its primary responsibility remained lawmaking and oversight of agencies such as the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), as well as engagement with NGOs and civil society organizations.
He recalled sponsoring a motion addressing the urgent need to protect Nigerians facing trafficking, slavery, and human rights abuses in Libya a motion that has now expanded to include xenophobic attacks in South Africa, Ghana, and other countries. The committee will, in the coming weeks, meet jointly with the Committees on Foreign Affairs, Judiciary/Human Rights, Legal Matters, and Special Duties to chart a coordinated response.
Senator Bassey announced plans for strategic advocacy visits, proposing engagements with at least one country per continent where Nigerian populations are significant. These visits, he explained, will allow lawmakers to interact directly with diaspora communities, gather feedback, understand local laws, and address cases of Nigerians jailed or stranded abroad.
On the recurring debate around diaspora voting, the senator said discussions remain ongoing, but any final decision rests not only on the National Assembly but also on approval by two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly. He stressed that the matter is constitutional and must reflect national consensus.
Addressing concerns about non-Nigerians using Nigerian passports or identity documents, Senator Bassey noted that legitimacy is the key factor. Those who acquired such documents through due legal processes including residency-based citizenship are protected under the law; however, fraudulent acquisition will attract full legal consequences.
He assured Nigerians abroad that the committee will prioritize their welfare, safety, and fair treatment globally, adding that diplomatic channels will be engaged to resolve cases of mistreatment or injustice.
Senator Bassey reaffirmed the committee’s commitment: Nigeria will not abandon its citizens anywhere in the world.
